I believe in love because what else is there? If not love, then what would fill my heart and colour my life and inform my choices?
I believe in love in its many shapes and textures. I believe in the lightning bolt of instant attraction. I believe in all the cliches: the knee-melting, stomach-tightening, heart-skipping eye meet across a crowded room. The inability to look away, to breathe, to speak, to reason. I believe in the heart knowing that this is The One.
I believe because that's how it was for me, twenty-nine years ago.
I believe in love beyond that first flush of infatuation. I believe in the power of laughter and of quiet conversation, in shared newspapers on a Sunday morning, in walking hand in hand, and in unexpected kisses...just because. I believe in companionable silences and in heated debates and in making up even when sorry is the hardest word to voice.
I believe in the instant bond of maternal love and in the husband with the goofy grin and misty eyes standing by my bedside and holding my hand. If I didn't believe in his love, then we wouldn't have made it through my week in the maternity ward and his decision to use his time alone at home to clear out some of "the junk" in the spare room.
I managed to replace most of the books he "cleared out." Our love survived.
It survived and it strengthened...without that strength it would not have survived. My sanity would not have. He held my hand again as we learned that our second son had serious "developmental delays", as I angsted over why, what, how. Through year after year of therapy sessions and specialists' surgeries and diagnostic probing until I screamed enough. In the quiet aftermath we got our diagnosis. It didn't change a thing. We have a son who cannot say the words but who shows us love in its purest form, in a hug, in a look, every day.
I believe in the blurred multi-textured canvas that is familial love. You know the kind: where a parent or a sibling drive you to the brink of despair and yet you don't give up because beneath all the angst there is love.
I believe in the love that I write about, because beyond the trappings of a fantasy world, beneath the patina of wealth and privilege and fabulous good looks, these are real people with the same needs and fears as you and me. I believe in their first heart-stopping meeting, in the consuming heat of desire, in the powerful emotions stirred by a newborn baby or by a bride's marriage vows.
I believe their love will survive and that it will strengthen through every trial they face in the years ahead. I believe because I feel their love and know its power.
How about you? What makes you believe in the love you read about...or what makes you doubt that the couple can live happily beyond the pages of their book?
About Bronwyn Jameson:
Bronwyn shares an idyllic piece of the Australian farming heartland with her husband of 20 years, their three school-age sons, a few thousand sheep, a dozen horses, assorted wildlife, and one sheepdog. When her head isn't bent over the keyboard or buried in a book, you will find her at the stables or somewhere out on the farm, cheering her sons on at one of their many sporting pursuits, or spending time with their extended family.
Wow.
Wow, Brownwyn! That's awesome. So powerful. I swung over from the Romance Bandits Lair since one of our own (darling Anna Campbell) let us know you were blogging here today. Didn't know it was going to make me cry. *sniff*
I believe in love because I live it, as you do, everyday. I know it can fail. Been there, Done that. I know it can succeed so brilliantly it makes you get down on your knees and thank the Good Lord everyday that he brought a wonderful, irritating, delicious, linear, charming, delightful and amazing man into your life. I believe because I get to see my gorgeous sons each day. I believe in it because my parents were happily married to one another for 38 years, and because my father, when he remarried, after my mother's death, gained 10 years of youth through a deep, abiding and fun love.
I guess if you doubt, you'll see that, because I believe that you find what you focus on. Which is why I love focusing on the good stories, the success stories, and the ways in which men and women pick themselves up from the hurts they may have suffered in love, and go on to find the "Real Deal." :>
Like your wonderful voice, and wonderful books, you've really put a face on love. Thanks for a wonderful post!
Yes if your love for your DH survived his clearing out your
books, I have to agree it'll probably survive anything!
I was going to ask what he was thinking of, but of course that's a stupid question, as he obviously wasn't thinking
Thank you for sharing those thoughts with us
Hugs
Sadhbh
May's Member of the Month
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
Like Jeanne said, this was
Like Jeanne said, this was a beautiful post, Bron.
Trish Milburn
I'm a believer
I'm glad I'm not the only one Bron had in tears.
I believe in love between the pages when some fabulous author succeeds in creating 'real' characters - no matter how fantastic the story line or setting. And I guess when I don't believe it's because, for whatever reason, the characters or their love don't ring true for me.
In life I believe in love because I live with it every day, a pair of small warm arms around my neck, a butterfly kiss, a painstakingly drawn card - just to wish me a happy morning - , a pair of large arms lifting me off the floor or a kiss on the top of my head.
H!
(Going off with JPY singing in my head, Love is in the air, in the . . . )
Re the Great Book Clear-Out
He did not understand why I was so upset.
They were books I'd read already, and I had stacks more. Men = clueless.
I'm not sure if my response to Jeanne "took". Hope this one does.
Bron
Bronwyn Jameson:
My blog; My website; Diamonds Down Under
TYCOON'S ONE-NIGHT REVENGE: Silhouette Desire, Apr
Jeanne, Take II
Thank you for your beautiful post, Jeanne. I so relate to this: he brought a wonderful, irritating, delicious, linear, charming, delightful and amazing man into your life. And I see that double-RITA finalist Anna Campbell pointed you this way. She does get around.
Bron
Bronwyn Jameson:
My blog; My website; Diamonds Down Under
TYCOON'S ONE-NIGHT REVENGE: Silhouette Desire, Apr
Real Characters
H Maree, thanks for reading and sorry for the tears. Not my intention, truly.
I agree with you absolutely about the characters, the ones who explode off the page and into your imagination, as being the ones whose love you believe without question. It's all about the emotional connection, yes? That said, I also need to believe in the pairing; that they're right together. Sometimes a hero will be so out-there awesome, and I think she's not the one for him y'know? Or perhaps they're both wonderfully drawn and real but the conflict between them is so major that you wonder if it will always create obstacles; that's when I need to have faith that they're strong enough to overcome.
Hi Trish and thanks. *waving*
Bron
Bronwyn Jameson:
My blog; My website; Diamonds Down Under
TYCOON'S ONE-NIGHT REVENGE: Silhouette Desire, Apr
That was wonderful, Bron.
hey bron,
Thanks for putting that down so wonderfully.
I believe in love,
Because even when you have the crappiest day ever and feel that the world will never be right again, a small word from a loved one can bring hope again.
Because it's the one beautiful thing that is constant in this ever changing world.
Because, in its million forms, it is what keeps life going.
Sri.
Hi, Bron, I popped over
Hi, Bron, I popped over from the Bandit Lair to read your post 'cause I heard it was love-ly-licious. And what a beautiful tribute to the power of love it is.
A great reminder of why we write romance. Thanks! Jo Robertson
Gives me the weepies...in a GOOD way
It's been a tough month reading all these wonderful blogs, I've got to get my tissue box front and center when I power up the computer to flag each entry for the home page. I start reading and the next thing I know I'm wailing away....and Bron, you were NO exception!
Lovely stuff, thanks for sharing!
Jayne
Community Manager
"We cannot really love anybody with whom we never laugh"—Agnes Repplier
Yup
Nothing else to say, but yup.
http://www.yvonnelindsay.com
http://yvonnelindsay.wordpress.com
http://www.diamonds-downunder.com
OMgosh
Bronwyn, you made me cry! This is a beautiful blog. Thank you for telling more of the truth than I've seen in a "what is love" post ever.
Wow.
Believing in love
Well Bron - can I say what a wonderful post. You articulated everything about the joys (and the hardships) of love. wonderful, moving words (you're not a writer by any chance
) and you hit the nail of the head. thank you.....
What else can I add...?
Hi Bron,
The gorgeous Maxine Sullivan let me know you were here talking about love and why you believe in it. I'm so glad I wandered over. Your post gave me goosebumps and, yes, brought tears to my eyes. Love is such a powerful emotion. It seems like yesterday when I sat on one side of my friend in a maths lecture (Thursday, first week, first year) and fell head over heals in seconds with the dark-eyed guy who smiled back at me. Hubby and I celebrated 27 years of marriage yesterday. I'm blessed with a gorgeous, loving husband and three equally gorgeous, loving sons.
Hugs
Serena
xx
Serena
Melbourne, Australia
Bron's Blog
Bron, I've been telling everyone about your blog because it is truly lovely. Sometimes things touch us unexpectedly and your blog has done that. Thank you!
Serena, congratulations on your 27th wedding anniversary. You must have been a child bride.
Maxine
"Mistress & A Million Dollars"
Silhouette Desire Mar 08
http://www.maxinesullivan.com
http://www.diamonds-downunder.com
Bron's Blog
Bron, I've been telling everyone about your blog because it is truly lovely. Sometimes things touch us unexpectedly and your blog has done that. Thank you!
Serena, congratulations on your 27th wedding anniversary. You must have been a child bride.
Maxine
"Mistress & A Million Dollars"
Silhouette Desire Mar 08
http://www.maxinesullivan.com
http://www.diamonds-downunder.com
Beautiful!
Maxine sent me over from the BD's loop.
What a beautiful post. Wonderfully expressed and yes, it made me teary too.
I believe in love because next month I'm married 28 yrs to the boy I fell in love with at 14 yrs old. Because of our youth, the road to happiness was rather rocky, but we finally found our way to each other. From that first heart-pounding, head-spinning moment, I had no doubt he was The One and still is. :)
Carol Burnside
http://carolburnside.blogspot.com
Thank you all for reading and commenting
Hey everyone. I've been away over the weekend and have just checked back in again. I want to say my own personal wow for all the beee-yootiful responses, with a special side of thanks to Anna and Maxine for sending folks this way.
Sri, this is worth repeating because it is SO true: <em>Even when you have the crappiest day ever and feel that the world will never be right again, a small word from a loved one can bring hope again.</em> Oh, yeah!
Jayne, I haven't had a chance to read all the posts yet but those that I have...oh, boy, talk about tap into the emotional well. As Helskat said: they must be writers, and awesome ones at that!
Happy Anniversary, Serena. Although my bio up top says 20 years of marriage, we celebrated our 27th anniversary in February. I'm smiling to think that all those years ago we were newlyweds together. (And, yes, Maxine, I was a child bride, too!
)
Hey, Carol, another child bride! I love that you've overcome the rocky patches in that road to each other.
Bron
Bronwyn Jameson:
My blog; My website; Diamonds Down Under
TYCOON'S ONE-NIGHT REVENGE: Silhouette Desire, Apr
Happy Anniversary
to old married couples from a young'un, I'm "only" celebrating 12
years marriage today, but then DH didn't realise he wanted me until I
was no longer under his nose
And then we had to get married on the one day in the year when our wedding night was down one hour
It makes it easier for DH to remember our anniversary
Hugs
Sadhbh
May's Member of the Month
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
Lovely blog, Bron!
It gave me chills
The only reason I'm a romance writer is because the whole "falling in love" thing was such a huge shock for me. I was very cynical (probably from reading Cosmo at a tender age...) but when it happened I think I really became a different person.
I agree with you that the couple needs to be right for each other. I love writing strong females who'd be too much for a lot of men, and pairing them with someone who needs a woman with that kind of strength to balance their own. Guess that's why I love the alphas
Hope you're having a great weekend!
Jen
Jennifer Lewis
Black Sheep Billionaire, Silhouette Desire, January 2008
Park Avenue Scandals: The Prince of Midtown, Silhouette Desire, September 2008
www.jenlewis.com http://www.myspace.com/jenniferlewiswrites
Happy Anniversary, Sadhbh
You young'un.
at the reference to an hour less on your wedding night. Australia has confused all us old folk by changing the end of daylight saving from last weekend of March to first weekend in April. Apparently. No one told me. 
Hey Jen, another young'un. So agree about pairing strong characters...and by strong, the woman doesn't have to be in-his-face confrontational either. I admire quiet strength and confidence; I think your heroine in Boss's Demand was that kind of woman.
Bron
Bronwyn Jameson:
My blog; My website; Diamonds Down Under
TYCOON'S ONE-NIGHT REVENGE: Silhouette Desire, Apr
Bron - DH and I actually met nearly twenty-three years ago
but as I said, it took him some time to realise he was looking for someone who was right under his nose
Thanks for the anniversary wishes
Hugs
Sadhbh
May's Member of the Month
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
Hi Bron!
Beautiful post. :)
I believe in writing about love, and hopefully making other people believe in it, too. I've never been one to really believe in "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" -- I think love is the thing that makes people stronger -- the rest is just survival.
Nice to "see" you. :)
Sam
2008 RITA FINALIST: Untouched
NO RESERVATIONS, Blaze Anthology, July '08
Blog with Sam and friends at Love Is An Exploding Cigar
Guest Blog:May 19, Amanda McIntyre
Sam, I love that tagline!
2008 RITA finalist. Congratulations!!! (I can't believe I hadn't tracked to down to say that sooner!) And re love, strength, survival: I need to add that it's not passive survival. We've worked through the rough patches; we've worked it out; we're both so glad we put in the effort.
Bron
Bronwyn Jameson:
My blog; My website; Diamonds Down Under
TYCOON'S ONE-NIGHT REVENGE: Silhouette Desire, Apr
Sadhbh
So, you wore him down?
Good job!
Bron
Bronwyn Jameson:
My blog; My website; Diamonds Down Under
TYCOON'S ONE-NIGHT REVENGE: Silhouette Desire, Apr
Thanks
I'm still pretty excited -- I think I may be permanently excited, LOL.
And you're right -- love isn't all honey and kisses, it can be a struggle at times, but it's very worth it in the end. :)
Sam
2008 RITA FINALIST: Untouched
NO RESERVATIONS, Blaze Anthology, July '08
Blog with Sam and friends at Love Is An Exploding Cigar
Guest Blog:May 19, Amanda McIntyre